The Book of Five Rings Concepts for Today

[marksmarkou]

After just finishing a long research and series of articles on the Book of Five Rings i'd like to find out what others things of its teachings.

Do you think that the contents of it can be still applied to todays martial arts.

[The BB of C]

What is it to begin with?

[tallgeese]

It's Mushashi's text on swordsmanship. There are tons of translations out there.

To answer the OP, yes, it can be applicable. Not in the way of technical skills so much, but I highly reccomned it for the development of mindset and the "big picture" ideas that affect interpersonal conflict.

Those who practice sword arts will certainly get more out of it than others, but it can still be very benificial to the ma practitioner.

[ps1]

Like Sun Tsu, Musashi's works speak very much to the art of killing. Afterall, one of the first things he speaks of is how many men he's killed. The book is best applied to military. But understanding the mindset is applicable to all martial artists and even buisnessmen use his teachings.

[bushido_man96]

There are some aspects of the Book of Five Rings that still have applications to today's practitioners; mostly mindset. It has also been applied to the business world, as has Sun Tzu's Art of War.

I haven't read it in some time; a refresher may be in order.

[tallgeese]

Yeah, bushido man, this thread got me poking through it again as well. Definatly good mindset stuff in there.

[ninjanurse]

It's next on my list! When I get through it..."I'll be back!"

[bushido_man96]

Here is a spot from The Book of Earth:

A man cannot understand the perfection and imperfections of his chosen art if he cannot see the value in other arts.

This statement, I think, holds quite a bit of value still today. We can see this in the pursuit of cross training, or even seeking to understand what other styles of fighting aim to achieve, through reading and research.

[bushido_man96]

Here's a brief jaunt from the same chapter:

The level of committment that you give to it (researching/mastering your Way) will indicate to it what to reveal of itself to you.

I think that is pretty self-explanatory. Work hard, study hard, and get results.

[NY_Karatedork]

I have the book and have read half of it and I think that it is a good book on strategy and sword arts.